Refrigerating apparatus.



T. E. MURRAY & A. W. H. GRIEPE.

REPRIGERA'IING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED Nov. s. 1912.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET `1.

Ram

3mm/boze T. E. MURRAY I A. W. H. GRIEPE.

REFRIGBRATING APPARAT'L'S.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. sz. m2.

1 ,1 20,220. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

3 'SIHBETSV VSHEET 2.

T. E. MURRAY & A. W. H. GRIEPE.

REPRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLIcA'rIoN rILBD nov. a. 1912.

1,120,220. Patenteanec. 8, 1914 3 SHBETSSHBBT 3.

li and sind Joint be UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. MURRAY AND AUGUST W. H. GRIEPE, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.; SAID GRIEPE ASSIGNOR T0 SAID MURRAY.

BEFRIGEBATING APPARATUS.

Spccicatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application led November 8, 1912. Serial No. 730,137.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS E. MURRAY and AUGUST W. H. GRIEPF., citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.v

The problem for solution is to devise a refrigerating apparatus which can be installed in a dwelling or apartment and be operated by the electrical current from an ordinary house outlet. The following requirements are involved: The apparatus must be of small dimensions; it must work automatically and without skilled care; it must be controllable by the simple opening or closing of the switch governing the current; it must use a refrigerating medium which is not dangerous to persons or property; it must work under a low and safe pressure; it must be capable of freezing water into blocks or cakes of ice of dimensions suitable for domestic use within a few hours; it must be noiseless; it must have no valves in the pipe system and no joints whereof one member is movable; it must be incapable of leakage either of gas from or of air into the circulating system.

The present invention accomplishes these requirements. It is a refrigeratlng apparatus of the vapor compression type, and therefore comprises a compression cycle system, wherein a compressor after compressing the gas forces it into a condensing coil where it is cooled, and then passes to a device which reduces the flow prior to its entrance into and expansion in an evaporator coil. Expansion in the coil abstracts heat from a non-congealable liquid, such as brine, and this in turn determines the freezing of the water in a suitable containing can immersed in said brine. From the eva orator the gas passes to the suction end o the compressor, thus completing the cycle.

The principal novel features are the opnstruction of the system whereb the same is controlled simply by the switch which controls the electric motor; the construction of the circulating system with no joint, having o. moving member, excepting the pint between the driving shaft and heh n, presser cylinder; thel poeition of Se cylinder ow the o the outlet duct and hence below the water level maintained in the condenser shell and in proximity to the orifice of said duct, so that any gas escaplng at said joint will be at once entrained by the water flowing into and down said duct; the inclosure of the controlling valve for tlie compressor within the bore of the compressor cylinder, and of the fixed reduclng device for the liquid flow prior to eX- pansion within the duct leading to the evaporator; the reservoir for volatile liquid,from which an additional supply can be drawn to enr1ch the refrigerant in the system in case of weakening; the construction of the ycondenser, so that the shell can be removed without disturbing the compressor or coil inclosed therein, to permit ready access to said parts; the supportingv of the compressor within the condenser shell independently of the coil; together with the Avarious combinations and instrumentalities more particularly set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure l is a simplified vertical section of the apparatus illustrating the cycle performed therein. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the evaporator, freezing can, and part of the base reservoir in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section of one of the compressor supports on line y, y of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a top View of the apparatus. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of the regulating partition. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the device for indicating the condition of the gas employed in the system. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the compressor. Fig. 9 is a cross section of the compressor on line e, z of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a top view of the sleeve valve of the compressor,with parts broken away to show the piston and slot therein. Fig. 11 is an elevation of a modification of our compressor, showing the motor su ported above the condenser.

.limilar letters and numbers of reference indica-te like arts.

Referring rst to Fig. l, which illustrates without details and in simplified form the compression cycle system employed, the comressor A vis disposed in the condenser shell in which is also the condensing coil C, leading .from QQmPressor A to coil evaporator D. return pipe from the evaporator leads to the inlet of compressor A. Water is admitted to condenser shell B, near the bottom thereof, at E, and escapes by the overflow pipe F which extends nearly to the top of the shell. evaporator D is supplied with brine or other non-congealable liquid, and receives a can H, in which is placed the water to be frozen. The volatilizable liquid is expanded in the evaporator D, and reduces the temperature of the brine in tank G to a degree suiiicient to cause freezing of the water in can H. The gas from' the evaporator passes to the compressor A, and thence is delivered to the condensing coil, where it is condensed to a liquid and returns to the evaporator, thus completing the cycle. We will now describe in detail our apparatus embodying this system: The shell B is of sheet metal, and is removably secured by bolts or other suitable means in a flange 1 bolted on the hollow base 2. Secured to the upper side of said base are four posts 3, upon which are placed sleeves 4, Fig. 4. The compressor A is provided with brackets 5, Figs. 3 and 9, preferably formed integrally with its cylinder 6, in which brackets are openings to receive the posts 3, so that said brackets when in place rest upon the upper ends of sleeves 4, and thus support the compressor A. On the posts 3, above the brackets 5, are short sleeves 7, and upon these sleeves rests the plate 8, in which are journaled the belt pulleys 9. The upper ends of posts 3 above plate 8 are threaded to receive the securing nuts 10. The outlet duct 11 of compressor A is united to the condensing coil C. The other end of coil C is connected to a duct 12 which may be integrally formed on the under side of the upper plate of the base 2, and said duct is connected by a pipe 13 to the upper end of coil evaporator The lower end of said evaporator is connected by pipe 14 to a duct lformed similarly to duct 12, and said duct communicates with the inlet duct 17 of compressor A by a vertical pipe 18.

Supported on a bracket on base 2 is an electric motor I, a belt J from whichI passes over pulleys 9, and a pulley 19 on a vertical driving shaft 20. Said shaft extends through plate 8 and through a stufiing-box 21 in the cylinder 6 of compressor A.. The motor I is controlled by any suitable switch K, Fig. 3. The compressor A, the mechanism of which is driven by shaft 20, is constructed as follows, Figs. 8, 9, 10: In the .wall of cylinder 6 are passages 22, 23. Passage 22 communicates with inlet duct 17 and has ports 24, 25. Passage 23 communicates with the outlet duct 11 and has ports 26, 27. Bolted to the cylinder ends are recessed heads 28, 29. Secured in head 28 are tubes 30, containing helical springs 31. Secured in head 29 are tubes 32, containing helical springs 33. The resiliency of springs '31 is to be the same as that of springs 33.

In the bore of cylinder 6 is a sleeve valve 34, having heads recessed to receive the The tank G containing ends of springs 31, 33. In valve 34 are inlet ports 36, 37 and outlet ports 38, 39. Also in the upper side of said valve is an elongated slot 40, Fig. 10. The hollow cylindrical piston 41 is placed within valve 34 and is everywhere closed except at the top, where there is an elongated slot 42, Fig. 10.

The lower portion of stuing-box 21 extends through the slot in valve 34 and the slot 42 in piston 41. The shaft 20, passing through box 21, enters piston 41, and at its lower end carries a crank arm 43 which is pivoted to one end of a pitlnan 44, the other end of which pitman is pivoted to a lug 45 on the inner side of piston 41. By this mechanism, the rotation of shaft 2O by electric motor I causes the piston 41 to reciprocate in sleeve valve 34.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 8, when the piston starts to the right, the sleeve 34 moves to the right until equilibrium is established between springs 31 and 33, and this movement will throw ports 25 and 37 and likewise ports 26 and 38 out of register. As the piston continues to move to the right, the pressure of the gas will force the sleeve 34 still farther to the right so that ports 24 and 36 and ports 27 and 39 will register. The compressed gas can then escape through passage 23 and outlet 11 to the condensing coil C, and a new charge of gas is drawn in through the registering ports 36 and 24. When the piston begins its reverse stroke, the springs 33 force the sleeve valve 34 to move to the left and follow the piston for a certain distance, so closing the inlet ports 36, 24 and outlet ports 27, 39. The as is then compressed on the left hand side of the piston until the resistance of springs 31 is overcome, when the outlet ports 26, 38 and inlet orts 25, 37 open, thus bringing the parts bac to the positlon of Fig. 1.

The base 1 may be made hollow, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to serve as a reservoir for an additional supply of volatilizable liquid. In order to fill this reservoir a passage 46, Fig. 2, is made in its wall, to connect said reservoir with duct 15, and a valve 47 is arranged in said passage. When the refrigerant is supplied to the system from a portable cylinder 48, indicated in dotted lines, Fi 5, said cylinder may be connected to an o set on duct 15. During the filling of the pi e system, the valve 49 in said offset is opene so that the reservoir in the base is filled at the same time. The valve 49 is then closed, and opened only as may be required to permit additional refrigerant to pass from the reservoir to the pipe system.

Instead of the usual expanslon valve, we use a diaphra 50, Fig. 6, of sheet brass of about g 1nch 1n thickness, with an opening of invariable area less than that of the connection in which the partition is placed, and

-sm to be readily evaporated in the expansion coil.

In event of weakening of the refrigerant in the system, it is desirable to provide means for recognizing that fact by simple inspection. To this end, we connect to the duct 14 a metal cup 52, Fig. 7 having a sight-o lindrical limng 54 of glass. Between the glass lining and a riser pipe 55, through which the gas is admitted, we lace a body 56 of absorbent material, suc as paper, dyed with a substance capable of changing color when acted upon by the gas employed, and of varying in color according to the condition of the gas. Thus we may use paper dyed with a litmus solution, which when acted upon by sulfur dioxid becomes blue. If the sulfur dioxid becomes weakened or adulterated by air containing moisture, the color will change from blue to purple, and will approximate more nearly to a reddish tone as the adulteration increases. The color of the paper is easily seen through the sight-opening 53, and furnishes an indication when the strength of the refrigerant in the system needs increasing.

Instead of mounting the electric motorAI on a bracket on the base as in Fig. 1, we may place it upon standards 57, Fig. 11, connected by a plate 58 secured to the top of posts 3, the shaft of the motor I then being directly coupled to the driving shaft of the compressor A. The reservoir in the base may, if desired, be omitted, also as shown in Fig. 11, and a bed plate 59 with supporting legs 60 substituted. The overflow pipe F in condenser B is connected to a duct 61, similar to ducts 12, 15, which leads to waste.

It will be obvious that there is no exposed valve or other exposed joint having a moving member externally, operable in any of the conduits through which the gas or liquid circulates, and hence there can be no leakage of gas from the system if the refrigerant be above atmospheric pressure, and no leakage of air into the system if the refrigerant be below atmospheric pressure.

The only valve in the system is the sleeve valve 34 which lines the cylinder bore and is wholly inclosed therein. It moves only after the piston (which in turn is inclosed in it) has sufficiently compressed the gas to over-balance the resistance of the opposing springs. This is after the piston has completed a large part of its stroke. Hence its movement is very small.

The only joint in which there is a moving member is between the stuffing-box 21 on 53 in its wall, closed by a cycylinder 6 and the driving shaft 20. This is submerged in the water in the condenser shell B. Any possible leakage of gas at once mingles with the water and immediately passes with that water to the overflow pipe, where it is entrained and drawn off with the water current descending said pi Hence said gas cannot escape from said joint to the atmosphere. The condenser Vcoils are also submerged and are disposed below the compressor, which is independently supported on the posts 3. Plate 8 and shell B, being readily removable, the compressor and coils are easily reached for repairs, without further disassembling of the apparatus.

The valveless construction permits of the successful use of sulfur dioxid as the refrigerant. This Huid has a pressure of 4.4 unds below atmosphere at a temperature of 0 Fahr. Hence into a system in which leakage at joints or valves is possible, air is vdetermined by the speed of the electric motor, which may be governed by any suitable means. Hence the whole system automatically operates as long as current supply is maintained to the motor, and is controlled solely by the switch K, Fig. 3, which controls said current supply.

We claim:

1. A refrigerating apparatus of the vapor compression type, comprising a condenser shell having an inlet and an outlet for water, a compression cylinder within said shell and below said water outlet, a piston in said cylinder, and a driving shaft for said piston, the joint between said shaft and the wall of said cylinder being submerged in the water in said shell.

2. A refrigerating apparatus of the vapor compression type, comprising a base, a condensing coil, a compressor, the said coil and compressorO being independently supported on said base, a shell having an inlet and an outlet for water and inclosing said coil and compressor, and means for detachably securing said shell in position on said base.

3. refrigerating apparatus of the vapor compression type, comprising a. base, vertical posts thereon, a compressor cylinder, side brackets on said cylinder supported on said posts, a condensing coil disposed below said cylinder, and a shell having an inlet and an outlet for water, inclosing said cou,l posts presser outlet, and the other end, to one of and compressor cylinder and secured on said said ducts, and a pipe connecting the other base. of said ducts to the inlet of said compressor. 4. A refrigerating apparatus of the vapor In testimony whereof we have ainxed our 5 compression type, comprising a base plate, signatures in 'Presence of two witnesses.

ducts extending across the under side there- HOMAS E. MURRAY. of, a compressor, means for supporting said V AUGUST W. H. GRIEPE. compressor on said base plate, a. condensing Witnesses:

coil between said compressor and said base GEBTRUDE T. Po

10 plate having one end connected to the com- MAY T. MCGARRY, 

